Hundreds of Alberta school buses delayed Monday due to snow

School Buses in Alberta Experience Delays Due to Snow

School buses across Alberta faced delays on Monday as snow removal work continues after heavy snowfall during the holidays.

Mark Critch, president of the Alberta School Bus Contractors’ Association, reported that hundreds of buses were delayed.

“We’ve certainly, in certain areas, had snowfall records over the last month, and it’s made life quite difficult this morning,” he said in an interview with CBC News.

“This was probably the worst day we’ve seen in our business in a long time for snow issues.”

Challenges Faced by Bus Contractors

Critch noted that the ASBCA received reports of contractors with up to 10 buses stalled in the snow. Some drivers were unable to reach work.

He expressed concern about the capacity of municipalities to clear snow from roads soon.

Ongoing Cleanup in Edmonton

In Edmonton, snow crews are still working to clean up the snowfall that began on Christmas Eve. Many Edmontonians returned to work and school, but some school bus drivers faced challenges.

“It’s difficult for parents and difficult for kids and schools, and certainly we feel for all of them,” Critch said. “But, unfortunately, this morning was a tough one.”

Impact on Accessibility

Koryn Dyer from the advocacy group Voice of Albertans with Disabilities highlighted the severe impact of heavy snowfall on those with accessibility challenges.

“What becomes very clear during events like this is how much accessibility can vary depending on where you live,” Dyer told CBC News.

She explained that snow-covered sidewalks and bus stops can quickly become inaccessible.

“Accessibility during winter affects far more people than we usually think,” Dyer said. “The real-world impacts are significant: people miss medical appointments, they can’t get to work, they struggle to access groceries, pharmacies or essential services.”

Dyer hopes municipalities will prioritize transit routes and stations for snow clearing.

City of Edmonton’s Response

CBC News asked the City of Edmonton for an update on snow-clearing efforts and the weather’s impact on transit.

“Over the past two weeks, some bus routes experienced delays, which ranged from an average of 20 to 30 minutes due to slower moving traffic as a result of poor weather conditions,” said Carrie Hotton-MacDonald, branch manager of the Edmonton Transit Service.

“However, because many of our primary routes operate on a 15- to 30-minute frequency, we are often able to maintain a consistent flow of service.”

She noted that about 75 percent of delays were due to challenging weather conditions, mostly heavy snowfall.

Ongoing Snow Removal Efforts

Crews in Edmonton are actively removing snow from arterial and collector roads, bus routes, and business areas, according to Val Dacyk, general supervisor of the city’s snow and ice control program.

“The city’s SNIC teams are working 24/7 following the above-average accumulation of snow experienced in December,” she said.

“While residential roads are in priority sequence to be cleared, it is important that Priority 1-3 roadways are completed first.”